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Glory youngsters let it slip

Perth Glory let a two goal lead slip, as ECU Joondalup scored two late goals to earn a 2-2 draw in week 16 of the PS4 National Premier League at Inglewood Stadium.

The home side looked on course for back-to-back wins, for the first time this season, after a Slobodan Vulin’s penalty and Stefan Valentini strike, either side of half time had given them a two goal

But substitute Paddy Doyle pulled one back for the visitors, before former Perth Glory midfielder Tommy Amphlett stuck late to earn his side a share of the

Dejan Spaseski was outstanding in the middle of the park against his former club but said to let a two goal lead slip was disappointing. “We put in one of our more disappointing performances this season and it was even more disappointing giving away a 2-0 lead,” he

“We were comfortable at 2-0 but we know ECU is a seriously competitive side and a positive we can take away from the game is that we competed with them all over the park, but we have to learn to put teams to bed when we are

Perth Glory Coach John Gibson, although disappointed to have let the win slip, thought his side was fantastic. “Yes it’s disappointing to concede so late, but we will use it as a learning moment as well, and we will have to show a bit more maturity to be able to kill off games when we’re in that situation,” he

“But credit to the opposition, they have struggled with injuries all season, so I thought they showed great character to come back and earn a point.”

Gibson said they have tweaked their formation a little in recent weeks and said it is working well. “We have two out and out strikers at the moment, and both Nikola and Stefan have scored in recently, which is great,” he

“We will learn from this game and move forward. We were good at the back and our midfield was strong, but we got caught out in transition for both of their goals, which we will need to work

ECU had the first real opportunity in a tight opening. Amphlett was on the end of Jon Higgins’ through ball, but his shot was saved by Glory custodian Jordan

But as the half progressed the Glory began to take control. Spaseski saw his header superbly tipped over by Jamie Serra on the half hour, before skipper Jacob Collard’s free kick was saved low at his near post by the ECU

Then in the shadows of half time the Glory’s pressure was rewarded with the lead. Nikola Talimdzioski raced into the left hand side of the penalty area and was brought down by Kye Douglas, and referee Ammar Timour pointed straight to the spot.

Vulin stepped up and sent Serra the wrong way to give the Glory the lead at the break.

Both sides went close after half time; Higgins’ header was saved by Thurtell, before Waliedin Ismail fired straight at Serra.

But as ECU looked like they were getting back into the game, the Glory doubled their advantage.

Collard’s free kick was headed back to him, and his deep cross from the left picked out the unmarked Valentini at the back post, and the striker fired home his fifth goal of the season.

The visitors changed his formation as they looked to get back in the game, and Higgins, who was moved to a more forward role, saw his first time shot well saved by Thurtell.

Then on 81 minutes they reduced the margin. Former Glory Youth defender Josh Tucker, who was causing problems down the right all afternoon, crossed to Higgins, were flicked the ball on to Doyle, who bundled the ball over the line at the second attempt.

It was game on, and the memento was all with ECU, and four minutes later they levelled.

Joe Smith made space down the right and played in Amphlett, and the striker, who had been well held all afternoon by the Glory defence, raced into the area and finished clinically past Thurtell.

It was a frantic end to the game and both sides had late chances to win it. Tucker fired wide after cutting inside the penalty area in stoppage time.

Then with the last kick of the day Collard’s powerful free kick was saved by Serra. But they both had to settle for a point.

The action still wasn’t over, and after the final whistle Glory midfielder Vulin was shown a second yellow card by the referee and was shown a red card.